Razor-stropping device



sept 2s. 192s. 1,685,470 C. L. VAN AMBURGH RAZOR STROPPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR CHARL`EB5 L. M4N ,4MM/26H ATTORNEY Sept 25, 192s.

RAZOR STROPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l1, 1926' INVENTOR CHARLES L. VA/v AMBURGH ATTORNEY Patented Sept.` `25, 192.8.

ennemis L. VAN AMBURGH, F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

RAZOB-STROPPING DEVICE.

Application led November 11, 1926. Serial No. 147,798.

My invention relates to razor stropping devices which are incorporated in safety razors and in which lthe blade holder isadapted to be swung from one position to another at the end of each stropping movement, so that the opposite sides of the blade are acted on alternatel l y It 1s a purpose of my invention to provide. a stropping device in which the blade holder. is operated'in such a manner as to positively prevent the edge lof the blade from cutting or injuring the strop or being injured by its engagement with the. strop, therebyfinsuring the proper stropping of the blade.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a razor stropping terized by its simplicity of construction, easy mode of operation, and the readinesswith which it can be cleaned after its use as a razor. l

Another purpose is to provide a stropping device which eliminates the provision of hooks for retaining the blade in fixed position on the blade guard and the attendant disadvantages in shaving, and yet provides means by which the blade can be securely vlocked in position against Figure 3 isaI view showing-the stroppingV device in front elevation; v

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of the stropping device in the position shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a" horizontal Figure 8 is auvi'evv 'showing in side elevadevice which is charac- Y the guard to pre. vent its accidental release lduring shaving.

a view` showing in side eleva- .sectional view ltaken on the line -5-of Figure 1;

' handle 28, Thus, when I lated, the pinion's 25 are partially tion another form of razor stropping device embodying my invention;

.Figure -9 is a view similar to Figure 8,

showing the stropping device in applied position to a strop;

Figure 10 is a view showing the razor vstropping device of Figure 8 `in front elevatlon; Figure 11 vis a plan of the stropping device shown in Figure 3, with a `portion of the blade,holder brokenaway to reveal parts not otherwise disclosed.

Similar reference characters refer to simi- '.lar arts in each of thev several views.

T e razr stropping device shown in Figuresl to 7, inclusive, comprises a frame having abase plate 15 formed of a. sin le sheet ofmetal constructed to provide a blatgle guard 16 and a pair of upstanding ears 17 in which is fixed a friction shoe or bar, and in which is journaled a shaft 18. Fixed to the shaft between the ears is abla'de holder 19 conventional in form in that it is adapted toslidably receive a blade 20 and to secure the blade against accidental removal by means of a projection 21, integral with the holder or with the shaft 18, and a rotatable collar 22, the

l projection and the collar tting in respective il'ecesses in .the blade, as clearly illustrated in gure 11. In order to prevent the use of any other blade in the stroppi-ng device when y used as a razor and' thus to eliminate the use of blades of inferior quality, the jblade holder 19 sprovided with a pin 23 disposed between its jaws and adapted to repose in a recess 24 .formed in the inner edge of the blade 2O and being preferably of V-shaped form, as illustrated in Figure 11. By the provision ofthe pin 23, blades not provided with a recess 24 cannot be inserted into the blade holder and, hence,-cannotbe used in the razor.

The shaft 18 has reduced extensions which project through the ears 17, and secured to these extensions.` are pinions 25 which constantly mesh with se ental gears 26 formed at the ends of a U-s aped yoke 27 which is secured to one end of a handle 28, Bymeans of an arm 29-which is at one end pivotal- 1y secured on a pin 30 extending through a bifurcated block 31 fitted in the handle and is at its other end suitably secured to the base plate 15 of the frame, for instance, by riveting, as indicated at 33--the frame is adapted.

rotated to e .Y

n the device, and the blade thus toll and fro and thereby also cause the blade holder 19 ,to be alternately swung from one positionto another relative to the base plate, the rotative movement of the blade holder being arrested by the engagement of the blade 20 with a razor strop 34, and the opposite sides of the blade being alternately acted uponby the strop when the device is applied thereto and moved to and fro thereon through the medium ot the handle. Preferably, the pin 3() extends not only through the blockllbut alsothrough the handle,although, of course, the pin may be fitted only in the block andthe block may be driven into placeI ior maintaining the pin in the required pivotal position. In either case the block provides a substantial support for the pin. At its end toward the trame the handle is preferably somewhat flattened and thereby transversely elongated, as indicated at 32, so as to allow a sufficient oscillatory movement of the arm within the handle tor the required partial rotation ot thel pinions 25 by their engagement with the segmental gears 26. The

arm 29 tits within the block 3l and within the Hattened end of the handle in such a manner that, while it is allowed the required oscillatory movement, it is prevented from more lateral play than is necessary for the proper operation of the pinions by the segmental gears. v

In the operation of the stropping device, t-he strop indicated at 34 is 'inserted between the base plate l5 and the friction shoe 35 connecting the earsgl?. This friction shoe is preferably positioned so as to bend the strop slightly and thereby toinsure a frictional contact of the strop with the frame, and the shoe is also in a position to hold the strop at the proper angle to the blade and to relieve the blade" holder of friction at this point. By gripping the handle 28, the operator can now reciprocate the device on the strop so as to effect owing manner: As soon as the device ,is moved along the strop in the direction of t-he arrow in Figure 1, the segmental gears 26 actuate the blade holder and cause it to occupy the eXtreme-position shown, in which the cutting edge of the blade 20 is trailing with respect to the direction of comes into a stropping engagement with the strop. The blade continues to occupy this position! as long as the device isw moved in the direct-ion indicated. However, when the direction of movement of the device is reversed, the arm 29,rocks on the pivot 30 so that the pinions 25 are thereby force-d by, the gears'26 to rotate to the position shown in Figure 2, thus causing the blade holder 19 to swing to the other extreme position in which the cutting l edge of the blade is in trailing relation to the direction of the movement of the handle, as in dicated by the arrow in Figure 2. From the the stropping of the blade 2O in the' movement of foregoing it is clear that the strops being held frirtionally between the plate 15 and the shoe causes the blade 20 to assumethe trailing relation tothe direction ot' either movements of the device along the strop, and the blade retains its positiony as long as no reverse movement et' the device is attempted. It is also understood that, even when only the slightest reverse impulse is given to the handle 28, the trictional engagement of the strop with the frame causes the frame t0 resist the impulse. The blade. is therefore inm'iediatcly swung away from Contact with .the strop so that it is impossible for the blade even momentarily to assume a position in which its cut-ting edge is in the direction oi the movement of the handle or ofthe device as a whole. It should be further' observed that, owing to the trames Jf'rictional engagement with the strop, a reverse movement of the frame upon the strop cannot beeffected until by the handles movement along the strop the blade 'also has been swung to its extreme reverse position. In other words, the swinging movement of the blade holder occurs before-the frame is moved on the strop. Since thus the blade holder anticipates the moyement of the frame, it is impossible at any time to cause the blade to cut into the strop by the movement of the device thereon. This is an important feature of my invention, as in stropping devices heretofore proposed the oscillating movement of the blade is accomplished by the handles non-pivotal relation to the frame Which carries the elements that effect oscillation. The best action possible would be instantaneous response, which because of the lost motion, results in tardiness, so that the cut-ting edge of the blade in such devices ,is allowed to remain in opposing contact with thestrop for an instant, during which the strop is cut and the keen edge of the blade impaired.

It is important to note in regard to my device that the pressure, which the blade normally exerts4 on the strop as a result of the frames resistance to 'a longitudinal movement of the device on the strop, maybe furtherincreased, if the operator increases the pressure of the frame on the strop, thereby effecting a superior stropping of the blade. en using the stropping device as a razpr, it is, of course, necessary to lock. the arm 29 against movement relative to the handle 28 and in the positions shown inFigures 1 and 7, so that the blade will be held in the proper position relative to the teeth of the guard 16, as shown in Figure 3. For this purpose I provide a locking device which comprises a collar 36 rotatable on a head 37 fixed to or formed integrally with the arm 29 and provided with'a groove 38 in which is movable one end of a Wire 39, the wire embracing the collar, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5, so as to lock 4the collar to the head and yet permit rotative movement thereof on the head. This collar is provided with a knurled disk or ange adapted to' be gripped by the fingers in rotating the collar to occupy either-of two extreme positions. Extending from the disk 40 is a curved lip 41, and in one extreme position of the collar this lip is adapted to engage a companion lip 42 formed in the yoke-bearing endof the handle 28 and is thereby adapted to lock the arm 29 to the, handle in the position shown in Figures 1 and 7. In the other extreme position of the collar, the li 41 is rotated tothe position shown in igules 2 and 6, in which it disengages the lip 42 so as to permit the necessary movement of the arm relative to the handle and thereby eiect oscillation of the blade holder.

It is important to note that, in the fixed position of the blade for shaving, hooked proj-ections necessaryin other 'stropping devices for holding the blade in shaving position are superflous in my device. Thus, the objection is eliminated of the hooked projections contacting withthe surface being shaved and thereby setting upa disagreeable abrasion. As shown in FigureB, I provide projections 18a, which extend just beyond the blade edge and serve as rests for the blade by engaging one side thereof so as to keep the blade at the. proper distance from the guard 16, when the blade is held within the frame in a position for shaving,- but do not project beyond the other side of the blade, and, hence, set up an abrasive action during shaving.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 10, I show another form of razor stropping device embodying my invention which is an adaptation of a conventional stropping device in that the Jframe 45 is provided with abla-de guardv46 pivoted on ears 47 and including an operating extension 48 by which the guard can be moved to blade-engaging position, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, respectively. In the blade-engaging position oit-the guard, as shown in Figure 8, hooked extensions 49 engage the cutting edge of the blade at the ends in order to retain the blade in the proper position relative to the teeth ofthe guard so as to adapt the blade for shaving. In the disengaging position of the guard, as shown in Figure 9, the guard vis swung away from the blade and toward the handle so as to permit the insertion into the frame or the conventional strop 34 in order to efect the stropping ot the blade.V By employing a pivotedeguard, means for locking the frame against movemeut in respect to the handle is rendered unnecessary; ctherwise, the stropping device is of the same construction as the device shown in Figures 1 to 7 and includes the friction shoe. 35' shown in Figure 4. With the guard in the position shown in Fig-.fre 8, it will be manifest that the'hooked extensions 49 prevent oscillating movement o the blade and,

-the pivot 30 and, by

hence, maintain the frame and the handle against relative movement, so that the blade is secured in position for shaving. It is clear that, when the blade is released by moving the guard to the position shown in Figure 9, the frame on the lever 29 can be swung on the engagement of the pinions 25 with the segmental gears 26, will effect oscillation of the blade holder during the stropping and in the precise manner as described in connection with the form shown in Figure 1, in order stropl and the blade. p

'I is form of stropping device is not so' desirable 'as the form shown in Figure 1, because the operating extension 48 is so positioned that the operator mayr accidentally swing it toward the frame 45 duri the use of the device in shaving and there yunintentionally release the blade. Although I have herein scribed only two forms shown and deunderstood that various changes and modiiic ations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit. and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a. razor stropping device, a support; a frame mounted in an oscillating relation to the support; a blade guard forming a part of the frame; means for rictionally engaging a strop in the frame; a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame; a blade holder secured on the shaft for rotation therewith and adapted to have its rotative movement arrested by' the engagement of a blade therein withthe strop; a pinion fixed on the shaft for oscillating the blade holder; and a segmentalear meshing with the pinion and being in a Xed relation to the support so that the pinion will be rotated by the segmental gear an will thereby cause the blade holder to oscillate and to swing the blade therein from one strop-engaging position toward another immediately upon an impulse given to the device or moving it longitudinally on the strop in the direction toward the blades strop-engaging position.

2. A razor stropping device, as embodiedA to prevent injury to the ,of razor stropping -devices embodying my invention, it is to be lou in claim 1, wherein the means :for rotating the blade holder comprises segmental gears meshing withpinions, and wherein the frame is Jr'ormed with a blade guard.

3. A razor stropping device comprising a frame having a blade guard a blade holder mounted for rotation on the frame; a handle; an arm ixed to the frame and pivoted in the handle; a yoke on the handle, segmental gears on the yoke; and pinions connected to the blade holder and constantly meshing with thel gears whereby when the handle is moved the gears will be actuated to rotate the pinions and thereby effect rota-- tion of the blade holder. Y

, in claim 3,

, vin claim 3, wherein the frame 4. A razor stropping device, as embodied wherein the with a blade guard on which a'blade carried by the blade holder is adapted to repose in one extreme position of the blade holder; and co-acting means on the handle for locking the arm against movement relative to the handle in order to secure the blade holder in the aforementioned extreme position.

5. A razor stropping device, as embodied is provided with a blade guard on which a blade reposes when the blade holder is in one of its extreme' positions; and a device for locking the arm against movement relative to the handle in order to retain the blade holder in the aforementioned extreme position, said device comprising a lip on the handle and a lip on the arm, and one of the lips being movable so the other.

6. A razor stropping device, as embodied in claim 3, wherein the frame is provided with a blade guard on which a blade reposcs when the blade holder isin one of its extreme positions; and a 'device for locking the arm against movement relative to the handle in order to retain the blade holder inthe aforeas to engage or disengage mentioned extreme position, said device co1n prising a lip fixed to the handle, and a lip rotatable on'the arm for'engaging or disen' gaging the first lip'.

A razor stropping device comprising a frame, a blade holder mounted for oscillation on the frame, a blade guard pivoted onthe ame to occupy one position in which it is adapted to/enga e a blade carried by the holder to .secure te blade against movement, and another position in which Athe blade is released so as to permit its oscillation by the holder in order to present first one side of the blade to a strop and then the other when the Y' between the frame and said actuator, a blade ame is reciprocated on the strop, and means for oscillating the blade holder before recipthe frame and in suoli a manner that the blade is shifted from that side in ,which its cutting edge is leading to the other side in which its cuttingedge is-trailing and vprior to a change indlrection of'movement of the frame, the said means comprising a handle, an extension on the frame pivotall'y secured to the handle for rocking movement, segmental gears carried by the handle, and pinions connected to the blade holder and meshing with said gears whereby, when the extension is rocked, the pinions will be'actuated by the gears for rotating the blade holder, and wherein the frame is formed with a blade guard. Y

device comprising a ade .8. A razor'stro guard, an actuator,

e having a means the frame with the actuator 've oscillatory movements holder mountd Y' for rotation on' the frame, the actuator and the blade frame is provided shaft established by a h andle into wh1 -the cu cated on the strop while positioning the vblade holder to establish proper contact of a blade with the strop, and the said shoe servin to insure frictional contact with the strop toold thel frame at rest for the interval of rotation of the blade holder that occurs'at the beginning of each contemplated Stroke.

9. A razor stropping device comprising a frame having a rotary blade carrying shaft Aand an arm fixed to extend from the frame, said frame formed .with a blade guard, a strop-engaging friction shoe carried by the frame, a handle pivoted to the arin to permit the frame to be manually propelled over a strop with the shoe in contact therewith, and

power transferrmg means between the handle and the blade holder, so that when the handle is actuated the frame is driven along the strop through the torque of the blade carrying the resultant bellcrank action of its components and whereby, at the end o f each stropping stroke, the frame is temporarily held at changing interval' and until the blade is turned completely over and represented in uniform contact with the strop 'preparatory vto the propelling. of the frame 1n an opposite direction.

10. A razor stropping device comprising a frame through which a strop is adapted to extend, a, blade holder mounted for rotation on the frame to present first one side vof a bladeto the strop and then the other when the handle is reciprocated on the frame, and means for rotating the blade holder upon reciprocating of the handle and in such manner that the blade is shifted from that side in which its cutting edge is trailing prior to a change in direction of movement of the frame the frame including a fixed arm and the sai means for rotating the blade holder including `ch said arm extends and to which said arm is pivoted.

11.V A -razor stropping device comprising a frame, a blade holder mounted for rotation in either direction on the frame, and means-for manually reciprocating the frame on a stro rest during the stroke and for rotatingv the blade holder in one di- A rectioi and then the other, in Such timed relation to the reciprocation of the that the-blade carried by the holder is moved to a new position before initiation of movement of the frame and in `a manner to constantly exert a torque on the Ablade holder to pre strop, the eincludlng' afixedl sul rted long arm, and the said reeiprocatingplxeans including a hollow handle in which the arm is pivoted for oscillation.

12. A razor'stro frame, a blade ho on the frame in der mounted either direction, and means ping dcvi comprising a forA rotation ge of the blade against the 1 i fixed arm extending'therefrom and the said movement of the frame and thus properly positions itself before I the contemplated -movement ofthe frame,

the said frame having-a actuating means including a-hollowhandle receivin' said arm and to which the lower hol er to secure 13. A razor stroppm frame, a blade holder on the frame; a blade guard pivoted on the frame to occupy one position in which lit is ada ted to enga device comprising a mounted for oscillation e blade movement, Y

a blade carried by the v a oscillation .by

blade to a strop and then the other when the v frame is 'reciprocated on the strop,4 and means the blade holder before reciprocation o the for oscillatin frame andin such a man'- ner that the blade is shifted from that side in which its cutting edge is leadingto the other* side in which its lcutting edge is trailing and prior tofajch'ange in direction of movement of the frame,the framehavingaxedlongarmex- -tending therefrom, and the oscillating means includnga hollow handle in which the arm is supported at itslower end vfofr rocking movementin two directions.

n vaN muizen;

Ema @other position in which the blade is re 'leased so as to permit holder in order to present first one side of the 

